Mega cheap hotel stays in Birmingham from £18pppn - summer dates

Pirates, we have found this hotel in Birmingham offering some bargain rates, even better the rates are cheapest throughout summer. The hotel offers a great location with shops, bars and restaurants near by and the famous Bullring Shopping Centre within walking distance. Offer details 1 night minimum stay Sample dates spanning July - August Example… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Luxe Mykonos holiday from £297pp - 3nts 5* hotel & flights

Ahoy there pirates, luxury awaits you on this holiday we have come across in stunning Mykonos staying in a gorgeous 5* hotel. The holiday in Mykonos is for 3 days but you can choose to stay longer if you wish. Holiday details Travel duration: 3 nights (longer stays possible) Example date: 10th - 13th October… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Viva Las Vegas: Direct Virgin flights from £320 return

Mateys, if you've ever wondered what it's like waking up in Las Vegas then wonder no more as our pirates have found some really decent fares to Sin City on our flights finder that are priced so low, you can win back on the tables in no time. Starting from just £320 return from London,… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Cute wee stay in Edinburgh from £64.50pppn - Aug dates from £79.50ppn

Ahoy Pirates, take a trip this autumn to visit our Scottish cousins in the capital of Edinburgh. Find out why J.K. Rowling felt so inspired by this city for the Harry Potter series or grab some retail therapy and at the end of a hard day, lay your head to rest at the 4* Dunstane… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Ice Ice baby: 3nt Iceland trip in Northern Lights season from £176pp - incl. flights & hotel

November to February is now well-known as Northern Lights season in Iceland, meaning tourists flock to the area during these months and prices undoubtedly rise. Which is why we were pleasantly surprised to still find bargains can be had; like this 3-night trip from as little as £176 per person, based on 2 sharing, including… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Late summer Croatia beach break from £271pp - incl. 7nts aparthotel & flights

It's coming home pirates! So what better way to celebrate than with a beach break in lovely Croatia? Our Holiday Finder is offering 7 nights by the sea in Zadar, a beautiful part of the Dalmatian coast! Flights are included from a selection of UK airports. There are great rates to be had on late-August… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Direct flights to New York from £275rtn with American Airlines/Virgin Atlantic

Pirates, come explore the Big Apple this autumn with these great fares from our Flights Finder. The best options are direct with American Airlines or Virgin Atlantic, and we've added indirect options from other UK cities. Browse below for options between September and November. Find a great place to stay in our Hotel Finder. Flight… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Winter sun: Flights to La Palma, Canary Islands from £39 return

Pirates, fancy escaping the winter and heading to the sunshine, well now you can with these great flights to La Palma. La Palma is one if the Canary Islands that is sometimes forgotten so grab these cheap flights and get exploring. Use our flight finder for all options Flight details Direct flights Departures from London… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Swim in Italy's largest pool from £166pp: 7nt late summer holiday w/flights for 2-3 people

September is the 4th hottest month of the year in Puglia, but prices fall dramatically compared to peak season, making it an ideal time to visit, especially with this excellent value holiday from London or Manchester. A 7-night stay starts from as little as £166 per person, based on 3 sharing (£214 per person if… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

New roadsigns that detect mobile phone use hit UK roads

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New road-signs aimed at shaming drivers using their mobile phones while driving have hit UK roads. The new electronic system can detect a strong signal of radio waves transmitted by the use of a mobile phone, which will activate the sign to light up and make road users aware of the passing culprit. The new system is even able to differentiate between someone who who is using their phone through Bluetooth and those through handheld use. Those who abide by the law and use their Bluetooth system will avoid the digital shaming. The road signs will not have the capability of noting details of offenders for reporting, but the idea is to hopefully deter through public shaming. One big problem with the system is that it can't detect whether or not the mobile signal it is picking up is of the driver or a passenger, which kind of defeats the purpose. The road-signs are currently active in Norfolk and if they seem to be a success will possibly roll out across the U.K. One things for sure, if they make it to London, they are likely to to be illuminated for the majority of the day with ride-hailing apps such as Uber, MyTaxi, Gett and Taxiapp being used in tens of thousands of vehicles throughout the day.

MM

July 11, 2018 at 03:44PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Winter sun Cyprus getaway from £194pp - 7nts hotel & flights

Ahoy pirates, fancy a bargain getaway to sunny Cyprus, we have just the trip for you. This holiday in Cyprus will see you staying for a week in Protaras with your favourite matey. Holiday details Travel duration: 7 nights (longer or shorter stays possible) Example date: 31/10 - 07/11 Flight + Hotel package from Loveholidays… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

New Uber? Concerns are raised as head of HR resigns following allegations of racial discrimination

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Uber’s head of HR has left the firm after just 18 months after allegations of racial discrimination at the ride-hailing company. Liane Hornsey, Uber’s chief people officer, sent an email to staff announcing her resignation on Tuesday. This followed an internal investigation as anonymous whistleblowers accused the head of HR of systematically dismissing internal complaints of racial discrimination.

This problem has raised eyebrows in the direction of chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi as he looks to change the well documented toxic culture within the firm. Khosrowshahi took over as CEO after Uber was subjected to widespread allegations of gender discrimination and sexual harassment, which led to Kalanick’s resignation.

After the investigation Khosrowshahi praised Hornsey as “incredibly talented, creative, and hard-working” in an email to fellow staff members but failed to give a reason for her sudden departure.

The investigation into Hornsey has caused much embarrassment for the firm who are looking to repair their public image.

July 11, 2018 at 02:56PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

A Tuscan treat: 4nt Italian B&B week from £375pp incl. flights & 4* rustic hotel - Aug departure

Treat yourself to Tuscany with this late August break. If you're not into massive holiday resorts and prefer something peaceful then the 4* Abbadia Sicille is the place for you. Settle down for a week in beautiful surroundings, overlooking the rolling green hills of the Tuscan countryside. Departing in late August you will be getting… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Winter sun in gorgeous Goa from £454pp - incl. 7nts hotel, breakfast, flights & transfers

Pirates, it's never too early to plan your next tropical beach holiday! Using our Package Finder we spotted a week in beautiful Goa, staying at the Lagoa Azul Hotel. As well as enjoying the nearby beach, there is a soothing swimming pool at the property as well as gym and massage parlour. Phew! This package… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Summer Crete getaway from £271pp - 7nts hotel, flights, luggage & transfers (2-3 share)

Ahoy pirates, we are still keeping our beady eyes open for the last minute summer bargains and we have come across this great deal in Crete. The holiday is based on 3 sharing however there are still great prices when you stay as a couple. Holiday details Travel duration: 7 nights Example date: 17th -… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Escape the winter blues: 4nt all inclusive Lanzarote break from £395pp incl. flights & 5* hotel

Even though the blue skies are out and the sun is shining, we all know this gorgeous weather can't last... so escape to somewhere where it will this winter. Jet off this December, away from the stress of the festive season, and plonk yourself right next to the sea at the 5* H10 Rubicon Palace… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

All the Turkey: 14nts Marmaris getaway from £266pp - incl. flights, 4* hotel & all inclusive

For less than £20 per day, you can get an all inclusive holiday to Turkey this October -- how wow is that? Our holidays finder has thrown up a 14-night all inclusive trip to Marmaris from London with prices starting from just £266 per person, based on 2 sharing. Other dates are available for slightly… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Super cute Irish glamping experience from £28pppn - flights from £32 return

Looking for a romantic break that won't bust the budget? How about this super cute glamping experience nestled in the Irish countryside? Killarney Glamping at the Grove offers a luxurious camping experience for couples in County Kerry - with stunning river/ mountain views just as a sweetener! The cheapest dates we have found are during… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Ghosts in the machine; unregistered HMRC drivers back again in big numbers

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You know what? I could harp on about the ongoing tribunals and the ‘gig’ economy stuff. The ‘status wars’ and the new tranche of attacks on operators funded by the GMB through their solicitors, Leigh Day.

However, they are becoming so common as to warrant a waiting period until the dust settles.

Just remember, even with the current tribunal wins, it is agreed that it at worst they are workers for the purposes of employment law. Which means, that they will still be doing a tax return even if they get holiday pay.

We are going to spend some time now with a phenomenon that seems to be back in big numbers. It is one of the other main problems running across my desk this month. Did you know there are still huge amounts of professional drivers still not registered with the HMRC?

I thought we had put an end to this with the onset of licensing twenty years ago, but it seems our new gig economy ways have brought this back into the fold.

To be fair, there are many possibilities as to why this has happened…

Someone supplementing their income (which of course should still be declared) who then loses his/her job or decides to go full time driving.Redundancy or minor health issues, all of these take away from looking at the potential tax consequences.Many people ‘test the water’ intending to register when they start to make some money, but somehow never find the right time to make the transition.Others have not had the money to pay their tax and thought that it was best to ‘keep quiet’.

By the time the driver wants to ‘come clean’ there may be a great deal of anxiety – a desire to come into the system; but a fear of doing so.

So how can someone make this happen? Its always best to report to HM Revenue and Customs as soon as possible, HOWEVER it is usually a good idea to get your house in order first. After reviewing the situation, an accountant will be able to tell you how much tax is owed. Even if someone does not have adequate books and records, they can always be forensically rewritten, using comparable evidence.

Once done, we then report. Once again, most good accountants will do it for you. Sometimes we sit with a client on the end of the helpdesk phoneline and talk them through it. However, it is normally given in writing, as it gives us the chance to present the case in full; hopefully warts and all, including any personal reasons why the income was failed to be declared. It includes accounts or summaries of income and expenditure which indicate the level of income involved. This should help to ensure that HMRC responds in the best way possible.

Accountants, by the way, must act quickly in all these cases. This is, due to anti-money laundering rules, which mean if not done properly we now get to be the baby flushed out with the bath water. Most accountants should work for a set price, advise and prepare the case for disclosure. And, be able to check the level of tax arrears. They should also adequately advise on the HMRC’s likely approach in the case and make the full and complete disclosure.

People can also be caught out for not disclosing…Renting out property, the sale of property i.e. Capital gains, or from selling shares or online trading. (even boot sales) if they are in the mood to dig.

Approaching the Taxman after being a ‘ghost’ for many years, is a scary thing, and for those that have not registered for three/five/ten/twenty years it seems scarier and scarier, especially when you realise that even if they weren’t earning enough to have a big tax bill, the costs in fines alone would be huge. I say of course…better get an accountant to do it for you! However, in general it is better to approach The HMRC than waiting for them to seek out the non-registrant. Also, each individual officer has a certain amount of latitude with fines depending on how much help and or truth is being thrown at them.

July 11, 2018 at 08:51AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Gary Jacobs - Drivertax THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Government launches Road to Zero Strategy to lead the world in zero emission vehicle technology

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The government has confirmed its ambition to see at least half of new cars to be ultra low emission by 2030 as part of plans to make the UK the best place in the world to build and own an electric vehicle.The proposals are outlined in the Road to Zero Strategy, which sets out plans to enable a massive expansion of green infrastructure across the country, reduce emissions from the vehicles already on the UK’s roads, and drive the uptake of zero emission cars, vans and trucks.Together, the measures will put the UK at the forefront of a global revolution in motoring and help to deliver cleaner air, a better environment and a strong clean economy.The Road to Zero Strategy will help the government to achieve key elements of its modern Industrial Strategy — leading the industries of the future and building the UK’s competitiveness in the face of major global economic trends.

And the government will further look to prepare for and capitalise on the opportunities which will arise from the profound changes in how people, goods and services move around the country through its ‘Future of mobility grand challenge’.As set out in the government’s Air quality plan, the UK will end the sale of new conventional petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2040. The Road to Zero Strategy will build on this commitment and outlines how government will work with industry to support achieving this.Chris Grayling, Secretary of State for Transport, said:“The coming decades are going to be transformative for our motor industry, our national infrastructure and the way we travel. We expect to see more change in the transport sector over the next 10 years than we have in the previous century.“The Road to Zero Strategy sets out a clear path for Britain to be a world leader in the zero emission revolution - ensuring that the UK has cleaner air, a better environment and a stronger economy.”The government‘s mission, as part of the modern Industrial Strategy, is to put the UK at the forefront of an industry that is estimated to be worth up to £7.6 trillion per year by 2050.The Road to Zero Strategy is technology neutral and does not speculate on which technologies might help to deliver the government’s 2040 mission. The government has no plan to ban any particular technology - like hybrids - as part of this strategy.The government has already committed to investing £1.5 billion in ultra low emission vehicles by 2020 and the Road to Zero Strategy outlines a number of ambitious measures including:

a push for chargepoints to be installed in newly built homes, where appropriate, and new lampposts to include charging points, potentially providing a massive expansion of the plug-in network

the launch of a £400 million Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund to help accelerate the roll-out of charging infrastructure by providing funding to new and existing companies that produce and install charge points. The request for proposal to appoint a fund manager will be launched in the summer

creating a new £40 million programme to develop and trial innovative, low cost wireless and on-street charging technologyproviding up to £500 for electric vehicle owners to put in a charge point in their home through the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme. And an increase in the value of grants available to workplaces to install chargepoints so people can charge when they are at work

the extension of the Plug-In Car and Van Grants to at least October 2018 at current rates, and in some form until at least 2020, allowing consumers to continue to make significant savings when purchasing a new electric vehicle

the launch of an Electric Vehicle Energy Taskforce to bring together the energy and automotive industries to plan for the increase in demand on energy infrastructure that will result from a rise in the use of electric vehicles

A spokesperson from the Alliance of British Drivers said:

“The ABD welcomes so called 'weakening' of the government's stance against petrol and diesel engines. Despite much media hype the vast majority of petrol and diesel cars that do significant mileages are clean modern vehicles.

“Car emissions are a tiny and fast diminishing part of overall pollution which comes from many sources in modern life including many that originate in our modern insulated homes.

“Much of the recent hype has resulted from hysterical claims of 'multiple premature deaths' from pollution. The clue is in the word 'premature' and actual number of hours or days that a life is supposedly shortened by are never stated.

“The truth is that if we stopped all industry, all heating, all trade and all transport there would still be pollution from natural sources. We may live a few extra hours from the cleaner air but would die from cold and malnutrition far earlier instead.

“We need to remind ourselves that whilst there may be minimal negative trade offs from modern living, the benefits outweigh these many fold. Some common sense needs to return to the table.”Liverpool

July 11, 2018 at 08:41AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT